Sheikh Hasina loses appeal right as deadline expires

Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina can no longer challenge her death sentence after the 30-day period for filing an appeal expired, the country’s chief prosecutor said on Monday.

Chief prosecutor Md Aminul Islam told reporters that defendants sentenced to death, including Hasina, lose their right to appeal if they fail to submit an appeal within 30 days of the verdict.

Hasina was sentenced to death by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal in November after being found guilty of crimes against humanity linked to the violent crackdown on the 2024 uprising that brought down her government.

According to the United Nations, at least 1,400 people were killed and thousands more injured during the unrest, with Hasina’s security forces and supporters of her Awami League party accused of involvement in the crackdown.

“With the appeal period now over, what remains is the execution of the verdict,” Islam said.

However, the prosecutor noted that the government retains the authority to suspend or cancel a sentence.

Hasina fled Bangladesh following the collapse of her government and has since been living in neighbouring India in self-imposed exile. She has maintained that she intends to return to Bangladesh in December.

The former premier’s case remains a major point of political and legal contention as Bangladesh continues to deal with the aftermath of the 2024 uprising.